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I continue the bullet round this week with an entry on the Cardinals. Here are a few topics to chew on as the Birds get back to business tonight against the Brewers. It’s a unique opportunity. The Cards can knock the Brewers out(hurting Jonathan Lucroy’s feelings in the process), and get some revenge on the Reds this weekend to finish out the final homestand of the season.
- Marco Gonzales proved to Cardinal Nation why Michael Wacha doesn’t have to be rushed back into action. With 5.2 innings pitched and 9 strikeouts Sunday, he was highly impressive. Speaking to a few Cards fans on twitter, they think there is no chance of Marco making the playoff roster. With a couple more starts like Sunday’s outing, he may not only make the roster but could start a game. The answer to John Lackey’s dead arm and Wacha’ endless push to return will provide more clarity there this week. This much is known. Marco can pitch and has gotten better with each start. On August 30th, he stopped the Cubs rampage at Busch with six solid innings. With a sweep pending on Sunday, he gave enough to allow follow through of the offense to secure a victory. A young starting pitcher is emerging again in September, and this year’s edition could allow last year’s sensation in Wacha to rest easy.
- How about the rotation? Adam Wainwright and Shelby Miller combined with Gonzales to allow 3 earned runs in 19.2 innings to restore order to a shaking rotation. After the four game stint in Cincinnati showed a few leaks, the Cards regrouped and established their season long strength. In short, they took care of business against an inferior team.
- Matt Holliday picked up the dominant stick this past weekend. After a decent series in Cincy that saw him collect 5 hits and reach base 7 times, Holliday became a run producer and a rally starter this past weekend. He smashed a 467 foot tone setting bomb that gave the Cards a 3-0 lead on Friday. He started off the scoring on Saturday with a solo home run. On Sunday, he started a comeback with an RBI double and added another 2B later in the game. Holliday matches Peralta as one of the team’s best power sources at the moment, with 18 home runs, 96 RBI and a .439 slugging percentage to go with the best batting average with runners in scoring position on the team. Holliday is dialed in right now, and has given the offense a reliable threat for the past month. Also, his discipline has improved lately. Holliday has as many walks(4) as strikeouts in his last 10 games.
- Oscar Taveras has hit well this past month but he is thriving in the pinch hitter role. With an abundance of outfielders, getting Taveras up as a late inning threat is a weapon that any playoff team can use. Taveras is 6 for his last 7 in the PH role. He is also stinging baseballs, collecting two hits on Sunday.
- Yadier Molina had his first three hit day since being activated from the disabled list. He is looking comfortable at the plate and could hold the key to a full bodied lineup attack. When he is right, he is drilling hits to the right field corner and left center gap.
- Trevor Rosenthal has settled down in recent weeks. He has 44 saves and some of those aren’t raising people’s blood temperatures. He struck out the side on Sunday and threw only 18 pitches. In 6 innings pitched in September, Rosenthal has four saves, nine strikeouts, two walks, and hasn’t thrown more than 25 pitches in a game. He is starting to get ahead in counts and control the inning. He also has a deadly 100 mph fastball, 81 mph changeup and a newly broken in 78 mph curveball. Watch out opposing hitters. Rosenthal is just getting better.
- Post All Star Break, Lance Lynn is 5-3 with a 2.06 ERA in 70 innings. He has 61 strikeouts to 26 walks and a complete game. In a time where trade acquisitions have either crashed(Justin Masterson) or slightly stalled(John Lackey) and the ace hasn’t been at his best, Lynn has thrived and held the rotation in check for months. Who would have thought that a year ago? The emergence of Shelby Miller is great, but Lynn’s stability has been appreciated.
-DLB
